Keep Students Safe As They Head Back To School

National Safety Council and First Student join together to provide tips on school safety

ITASCA, IL--Aug. 15, 2013: With the back-to-school season just beginning, the National Safety Council has partnered with First Student, the largest provider of student transportation services in North America, to share important safety information at nsc.org/back2school. Millions of students will head back to school this fall, which is why now is a good time for parents and children to talk about school safety.

"We are pleased to partner with the National Safety Council on this important back to school program," said Gary Catapano, senior vice president of safety for First Student. "There is nothing as important as getting students to and from school safely, and the safety information provided on this website allows students, parents and motorists to see the critical role they play in the process."

Back-to-school safety encompasses a wide variety of topics including safety in and around buses, pedestrian safety, safety tips for motorists, tips to address bullying, playground safety and backpack safety among others. NSC and First Student have provided fact sheets covering these important topics with tips, such as:

Children walking to school should always cross at corners where there are traffic signals and designated cross walks All children should avoid distracted walking, including no texting while walking When on the bus, students should find a seat and sit down as loud talking or other noise can distract the bus driver Don't overstuff a child's backpack; it should weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of his or her body weight More children are injured falling off climbing equipment or horizontal ladders than anything else on the playground – children under 4 shouldn't play on this equipment and older kids should be watched If parents suspect their child is being bullied, they should speak out by telling school authorities, a teacher, a bus driver or school counselor

"Heading back to school can be a stressful time for both parents and students," said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO. "As the safety of your family is of the utmost importance, parents are encouraged to use this time to have conversations with children of all ages to help keep them safe."

You also can find public service announcements on the following subjects:

School bus safety for students Back to school: Driving safely with school buses Recognizing the signs of bullying and how to respond